HOW TO CATCH THE BLACK BASS 39 



now crosswise, so that its jaws close over the gills, the hook 

 being at the end of the minnow's snout, but not in the mouth 

 of the bass. 



It then begins to swim away; and it can be readily under- 

 stood that this is the crucial moment; for, if the angler, 

 when he feels the bait being seized and 

 drawn away steadily, gives a sudden jerk, 

 he simply draws the hook out of the ten- 

 der mouth of the minnow, which the bass 

 then carries away. 



He should control himself and wait 

 patiently for the next effort of the bass, 

 which is to stop for an instant, give a sudden 

 little gulp, when the bait and hook both dis- 

 appear down his throat. 



It is just at the instant when the sudden 



gulp is made that the angler should tighten 



his line ; and nothing can teach him this but 



experience. The novice must practise some 



time before he can determine, by the sense 



of touch, what is happening at the other 



end of the line; a little patience, however, is 



all that is needed; and, with anv kind of a Basshook for Min- 

 now or Frog 



light rod, he will soon be able to recognize (siightiy reduced) 

 the proper instant at which to hook his fish. 

 To give too much time is almost as bad as to be too hur- 

 ried; delay is dangerous when carried beyond a certain point; 

 because, if the point of the hook happens to touch a sen- 

 sitive part of the gills of the bass, it will at once make a 

 rush, casting the minnow and hook out of its mouth, and 

 invariably escape. 



When a bass strikes, the effect is just the same as if a 

 weight were suddenly tied on the end of one's line, and then, 

 about five seconds afterwards, another heavier weight were 

 added and then removed. 



